Coming off good back-to-back wins Rovers are starting to show up on the radar as SLs top points scorers, albeit 8th on the ladder.

This weeks opponents have a win/draw scenario and boast two of the current top try scorers in Kearney and Sammutt.

Both Rovers and the Bulls have thrown away winning leads (Salford and Widnes respectively) but the Bulls managed to salvage a draw.

Rovers will have Josh Hodgson back after his ban and Craig Hall is expected to recover. I expect Josh to come straight back in with Keal Carlile on the bench, and perhaps see Craig give Liam Salter a breather at centre (even though he is playing well).

I don't know about the Bulls injury situation but it seems Bateman is still out.

I'm going to sit on the fence for this one. It's too close to call with perhaps home advantage a significant factor.

Just had a read of the Bulls board and they reckon Langley and Blythe will both be missing, but there is a chance that Bateman (he's had a few outings in reserve-grade) and Foster will return to action.

The loss of Langley is IMO significant because he is the pack's engine room, plus he always seems to play a blinder against Rovers.

We're carrying a few knocks from last week, and still without some of our key players. The likes of Gale, Bateman and Purtel are still yet to feature this season, and Platt who picked up an injury against Hull in round 2 is still missing. However Bateman could make his first appearance this week following a couple of outings in the u20's and Foster is most likely to be back too. Hopefully with a longer turnaround this week as to the one we had after Huddersfield, we'll be feeling fresh and ready to go. Should be a good game with both teams scoring a fair few points already this season, and hopefully you can bring a good number over, see you sunday.

Should be a really good game and looking forward too it. With regards Craig Hall I'm not sure you can really drop anyone from the starting 17. Salter playing very steady and doing nothing wrong in the centres and Brown scoring 4 in 2 on the wing. Also will be interesting when Withers is back if they drop Carlile because I think he is one of the most consistent players we have and making very few mistakes

What a lovely problem for our coach to have makes a change hope he gets it right

I think if we play the basics right like the past 2 games we will be in with a shout, i also think a win here will outshadow the win against warrington and a possible win at hull in a few weeks.

We rarely perform at Odsal, a factor which I cannot ignore. I'm yet to be convinced that our Keegan-esque approach to winning matches will work against the better sides, especially away from home.

I hope to win, I expect to lose. Got my tickets already, Bulls by 12.

Could go either way. With you having two playmakers now rather than just one I expect much more of an attacking threat. As far as we're concerned we need to start well. Our two losses this year were due in main to awful starts and us playing catch up.

We're down our main playmaker (Gale) and our hardest worker (Langley) but we should be getting Bateman back which is a plus.

I'd say Bulls by 2.

I’m still not convinced our defence will hold out against any sort of sustained pressure. So again (as Cool Hand Luke says) basics are the key. Recently our error count has been excellent. Matched with a bit of tactical kicking and we’ve been able to control (to some degree) the following opposition set. On the back of this our discipline has improved (whether through necessity or it’s actually finally clicked – who knows). Certain players are continuing to run the risk of being penalised for laying on for too long though. Attacking wise, we’re executing plays very well and we look capable of scoring through many avenues.

Hodgson will obviously be drafted straight back in, replacing Cox would be my call.
Temptation to bring in Hall, but who would he replace and would it actually make us any stronger?

The question you pose is the question I feel sure CS will be asking, and based solely on who would make Rovers stronger I think Hall is a bigger threat than Salter?

However, after a mid-morning coffee (with dunked Bourbons), my colleagues and I are of the opinion that Salter is in the team on merit and deserves to retain his place, but the team will be improved with the inclusion of Hally. This is why we feel Hally will replace Alex Brown.

Now, we know it is a dangerous game attempting to second guess coach CS, but he is ever conscious about player development. So, with this in mind, Alex is one of CS's projects (a work-in-progress) and whilst he has played exceptionally well CS won't want to burn him out. Instead, he might decide to use this opportunity to 'rest' (not drop) Alex so he can can take stock of his recent performances and work on aspects of his game that needs improving.

Bateman back for us: www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/s ... e_Bateman/

Bateman back for us: www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/s ... e_Bateman/

So you'd drop a kid who scores a hat-trick and gets MOTM? I'm glad you're not my boss.

Stick with the same team, dont change it if there are no obvious changes to be made! Make Hall work for his return to the team and also it gives the kids incentive to keep playing well, knowing they will be rewarded with first team footy! I think we will win this weekend, because im not going everytime i go to odsal we lose!

The one big advantage Hall offers, is his versatility. Should an injury occur, he can do a job 1-7 etc.
Still, big call ‘resting/dropping’ a form player be it Salter or Brown to cater for Hall. Hall's fitness is also a concern. Will he be 100% fit? Hall seems prone to picking up the odd calf strain here, ankle problem there - never anything major, just minor strains that result him being out for a few weeks.

If we're desperate to draft Hall into the side somewhere, I'd go down the Salter route. But even then, I'm inclined to keep the same 1-7 that has served us well in the past two games.

Never change a winning team stan that's what I say unless injuries of course

Salter in my eyes is a betterer tackler love that word betterer is there such a word oh well there is now

No chance! Sandercock wont change a winning team. And does anyone realise that since Hall has been out, we`ve won both times!

The old Adage....if it ain't broke, dont fix it.
At the moment the team is playing reasonably well and as with any winning team ( i know its only two in succession) but, you want as little dissruption or change as possible imo, Salter has earned his place on merrit as has Brown who looked immpresive on Saturday.
You also have to consider the likelyhood that these two players will get even better with game time and dropping them now would be the wrong thing to do imo.
People have been calling for Sandercock to give the young guns a good run out for some time, now that he has done and they have done ok, they want him to drop them after a couple of games or so, what message would that send out to the other youngsters who aspire to push for first team recognition in the future?.
Injuries or fatigue will determine team selection to a point during the season anyway but for the time i would leave the current selection well alone.

burn him out hes 25 and played 2 games for gods sake

Never be afraid to change a winning team if you think you can make it stronger. Speaking personally, the only change i would make is Hodgson in for Jordan Cox but i'm sure that Craig Sandercock will give a lot of thought to Craig Hall and Lincoln Withers if they are available. Got to be a good thing surely.

Go on then I’ll say it… Craig Hall isn’t all that, he’s a good back up player, ideal for the inevitable injury crisis, can play 1 – 7 or 13 so ideal for any squad

I thought he looked awful against Salford and just don’t see how he’ll add to our team currently. He’s lost on the wing and the defensively Salter has looked good so why move him out for a player who is arguably weaker in defence at centre. We aren’t lacking in attack so to add another pivot may do more harm than good, keep Hall in reserve for when we pick up a knock or get to a point when we really need to rest someone. A full strength HKR team doesn’t have CH in the 17.

Pariah,burn the witch,off with his head.
Hope you're ready BR.

Just Josh for Jordan the only change in the 17 for me!

Agreed

If and I mean if he plays hall stick him on the bench and that has covered 1to 7 if any injuries